Tomato Basil Couscous Salad + [living situation talk]

How to make Tomato Basil Couscous Salad
1. In a large sauce pan, follow directions on the back of the couscous box, and cook your cous cous (using water). Set aside.

2. In a large bowl, mix together cooked couscous (should be about 2 cups), chopped green onion, and chopped grape tomatoes.

3. In a small bowl mix together your dressing: EVOO, balsamic vinegar, salt, pepper, and garlic salt. Then poor dressing over couscous and toss until fully coated.

4. TASTE- You may need to add a bit more salt or more balsamic vinegar for more flavor! I use aged balsamic because it is sweeter, so I needed to add more salt.

The flavor of this salad was delicious with the fresh basil! It could have used more salt though. I think I need to move on from this balsamic vinegar kick- Have you notice that I’ve been adding it to EVERYTHING lately?

Also, sorry for skimping on the photos. I rushed through this photo sesh because I actually brought this salad to a BBQ- and had little time to take pictures. The settings on my camera weren’t right for the lighting and my photos turned out blurry and blah blah blah. *you win some, you lose some*

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Living Situation Shenanigans 

Me, living alone? I don’t know if I’m ready. I do know that I am ready for a new space! I love each and every one of my roomies and I will be so sad to leave them after 2 great years. They are the greatest girls: excited about life, happy, interesting, great sense of humor, and fun to be around. BUT I don’t like the amount of space we have. It’s just to dang big. 

 

After 2 years- this is THE only pictures of all 6 of us!

Current Situation

I live with 5 other roommates in a HUMONGOUS “college house.” 

1. Six roomies, One bathroom. How does that work?

2. College House = Old, grungy, squeeky, expensive bills, becomes dirty easily, etc.

3. I have too much stuff for my own, individual space. Hence: my room is a little bit cluttered due to the lack STORAGE.  

4. Messes acquire extremely quickly in common areas. We are all clean people, how the H does that happen? Here’s how I look at it: if there’s already a small mess, the next person doesn’t feel obligated to clean that mess and then makes more of a mess over the already made mess.

5. Old = complications. Our house is AWESOME. It has a ton of character: built-in, original hardwood floors, original cast iron tub, but: it also breaks easily (HAHA). 

6. No air conditioning, expensive heat: Ya’ll know Minnesota weather is of the extremes. In winter we have sub degree weather and in summer, it is beastly hot. To heat this sucker to a measly 65 degrees- you don’t even want to know how much our bill is. 

Preferred living situation

1. Live with 1 or 2 other people: less people, less mess—> Right?

2. SMALLER COMMON SPACE, bigger bedroom. I think less of a common area and more personal space is a good idea.

3. Apartment! In general, apartments are a lot less work. The only con is, you don’t have a yard “>

4. All inclusive: I want to pay one set price! That way, I can crank the heat and not have to worry about a ridiculous heating bill.

5. WINDOWS: I need a house with lots of sunlight. I just do.

6. New-er = less problems 

So- what do you think about living situations?

Do you prefer to live with a lot of people or just one other or solo?

Do you prefer a big common space or a small common space?

House or Apartment?